Nationals minor league report

THEY CALL HIM DR. GLUV: In two Nationals Minor League Reports this season, Nats p.r. maverick Bill Gluvna has successfully executed 30 of 35 attempts at witty puns. ... the Bowling Green State University product leads the Nationals p.r. staff in informative minor league updates with 26 different players. ... the right-hander is scheduled to write game notes after tonight's Nationals-Braves tilt ... Gluvna, 27, has been working for the Nationals since 2005.

This week's MLR is below. As always, readers are encouraged to leave their favorite pun in the comments section.

This Week's Top Headline

ROSENBAUM IS A ROSENBAUM IS A ROSENBAUM IS A ROSENBAUM: In 5 starts for Hagerstown, LHP Daniel Rosenbaum is 1-0 with a 1.57 ERA (5 ER/28.2 IP)...the 22-year old southpaw has struck out 25 and walked just 5 (5.0/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio)...among Single-A South Atlantic League pitchers, he ranks 5th in ERA and 7th in WHIP (0.94) ...Rosenbaum was selected in the 22nd round of the 2009 Draft out of Xavier University (OH)...he is scheduled to make his next start tonight at Rome (Braves).

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs
International League North Division
15-11, 3rd Place, 1.0 Game Back

HAIL TO THE NEW CHIEF: Yesterday, RHP Stephen Strasburg was promoted to Syracuse...Strasburg is scheduled to make his Triple-A debut on Friday vs. Gwinnett (Braves)...Strasburg, the top overall selection in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, went 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA (4 ER/22.0 IP) in 5 starts with Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League...with 27 strikeouts and just 6 walks in 22.0 innings pitched, Strasburg posted a 4.5/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and an Eastern-League best 11.05 strikeouts per 9.0 innings.

WHAT A RELIEF: Since surrendering 3 earned runs in 0.1 inning in his season debut, April 8 vs. Lehigh Valley (Phillies), LHP Atahualpa Severino hasn't allowed an earned run 13.1 innings...he has tossed 10.0 consecutive scoreless innings over his last 6 appearances beginning April 20...overall, Severino is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA (3 ER/ 13.2 IP) in 10 appearances...right-handed hitters are just 4-for-28 (.143) against him this season...Severino, 25, signed as a non-drafted free agent, February 13, 2004.

DR. DREW: In 9 combined appearances with Syracuse and Double-A Harrisburg, RHP Drew Storen has posted a 1.50 ERA (2 ER/ 12.0 IP) while striking out 13 and walking just one...Storen, Washington's 2nd selection in the first round (10th overall) of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, went 4-for-4 in save opportunities and recorded a 0.96 ERA (1 ER/9.1 IP) in 7 appearances with Harrisburg before his April 29 promotion to Syracuse.

DOUG E. FRESH: LHP Doug Slaten has fired 15.0 consecutive scoreless innings in 10 appearances to begin the season...the southpaw has 16 strikeouts against just one walk...Slaten was claimed off waivers from Arizona on November 4, 2009.

THRILL OF THE CHASE: 3B Chase Lambin leads the Chiefs in hits (28), batting (.333), home runs (5), RBI (15), total bases (49), and slugging (.583)...he has hit safely in 19 of 23 games this season...Lambin signed with Washington as a minor-league free agent, January 7, 2010.

THE GARATE KID: LHP Victor Garate has hurled 11.2 consecutive scoreless innings in his last 8 appearances...the 25-year-old owns a 0.71 ERA (1 ER/12.2 IP) and a .140 (6-for-43) batting average against...lefties are just 1-for-10 (.100) against him...Garate was acquired off waivers from Los Angeles-NL on September 2, 2009.

CHICO MEETS WORLD: LHP Matt Chico allowed 2 earned runs in 6.1 innings, but received a no-decision on Monday vs. Bowie (Orioles)...Chico has worked at least 5.0 innings and allowed 2 earned runs or less in 4 of his 5 starts this season.

PITCHING IN: Harrisburg pitching ranks 2nd in the league in both ERA (3.12) and strikeouts (189)...Senators hurlers have allowed the fewest home runs (6) and fewest walks (69) among EL pitching staffs.

MORRIS CODE: In 4 starting assignments, RHP A.J. Morris boasts a 1.53 ERA (3 ER/17.2 IP) and a .197 (13-for-66) batting average against...on Monday vs. Myrtle Beach (Braves), Morris pitched 5.2 shutout innings while allowing just 2 hits and striking out 5 to earn his first win of the year...Morris, 23, was selected in the 4th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

DETECTIVE KIMBALL: RHP Cole Kimball leads the club with 3 wins and is a perfect 3-for-3 in save opportunities...in 10 appearances, Kimball is 3-0 with a 2.93 ERA (5 ER/15.1 IP)...left-handed hitters are just 2-for-21 (.095) against him...the 24-year-old was Washington's 12th-round pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

BUILDING BLOX(OM): 1B Justin Bloxom, 22, ranks among the South Atlantic League leaders in batting average (t-2nd, .351), hits (t-3rd, 34), doubles (5th, 11), on-base percentage (6th, .413) and runs, (7th, 20)...he has hit safely in 20 of 24 games, recording a multi-hit effort in 10 of those contests...the Kansas State University product was selected in the 11th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

EVEN STEVEN: 20-year-old 3B Steven Souza is tied for tops in the SAL with 23 runs, and ranks 2nd in RBI (25)...he has posted 3 straight multi-hit efforts, collecting 7 RBI in those games...Souza was Washington's 3rd-round selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

DESTIN-ED TO SUCCEED: OF Destin Hood is hitting .340 with 5 doubles, one triple, one homer and 15 RBI...the 20-year-old has hit safely in 19 of 25 games this season...Hood, selected in the 2nd round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, opened the 2010 campaign rated as the No. 10 prospect in the Nationals chain according to Baseball America.

With these guys (even aside from SS and Storen) putting up good numbers in the minor leagues, it's getting more and more irritating to watch Battista, Bruney, and others fail to get the job done. Like everyone else, I'm worried about Clippard and Capps being fried by the All-Star break.

Really would love to see Storen and a couple of new guys bolster that bullpen, but as JMax and Bernadina keep proving, minor league numbers -- hitting or pitching -- may not mean a whole lot.